Children who follow the routine childhood immunization schedule (Government of Ontario) will receive all the immunizations needed at the right time to attend school.
Having up-to-date immunizations:
- helps ensure that children have the best protection possible against certain diseases
- helps reduce the risk of disease outbreaks in schools and child care settings
Up-to-date immunization records informs Public Health of vaccine coverage rates, which allows us to act quickly should cases of vaccine preventable diseases occur in the school or child care setting. Children with incomplete immunization records may be excluded from school or child care during vaccine preventable disease outbreaks.
The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) R.S.O.1990, requires all students to have proof of up-to-date immunizations (or appropriate exemption documents) for certain diseases for school attendance in Ontario.
Children enrolled in elementary or secondary school must have proof of immunization against the following diseases:
- diphtheria
- tetanus
- polio
- measles
- mumps
- rubella
- meningococcal disease (meningitis)
- pertussis (whooping cough)
- varicella (chickenpox) (for children born in 2010 or later)
The Child Care and Early Years Act (CCEYA), 2014, requires all children to have proof of up-to-date immunizations (or appropriate exemption documents) for certain diseases for licensed child care attendance in Ontario.
Children enrolled in licensed child care centres must have proof of immunization against the following diseases:
- diphtheria
- tetanus
- polio
- haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
- measles
- mumps
- rubella
- pneumococcal disease
- meningococcal disease (meningitis)
- pertussis (whooping cough)
- rotavirus
- varicella (chickenpox)